Paper size detection module

ABSTRACT

A paper size detection module includes a position sensing assembly and a sliding block assembly. The position sensing assembly is installed on a bottom side of a paper supporting plate. The position sensing assembly includes a carrier plate, a sensing circuit board and plural elastomers. The first ends of the elastomers are connected with the sensing circuit board. The second ends of the elastomers are protruded out of the carrier plate and have corresponding pressed surfaces. The sliding block assembly includes a paper positioning block and at least one roller. The paper positioning block is installed on the paper supporting plate. The roller is connected with the paper positioning block and rolled along the carrier plate. When a position of the pressed surface rolled and pressed by the roller is detected, the sensing circuit board generates a paper size signal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a paper size detection module, and moreparticularly to a paper size detection module that is installed on apaper supporting plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As known, people usually need to copy paper documents in daily lives orin working places. Generally, the paper document to be printed is placedin a paper input platform. At the time when the paper document is fedinto the inner portion of a printer or a copier, the printer or thecopier detects the width of the paper document. According to the widthof the paper document, the printer or the copier selects the print paperwith a suitable size from a paper input tray. Then, the contents of thepaper document are printed out and printed on the print paper.

Conventionally, the sensors for measuring the paper width paper areinstalled within the paper input platform of the printer or the copier.For example, the sensors are infrared sensors, pressure sensors or anyother appropriate optical sensors. Since sensors are power-consuming,the printer or the copier has to provide a lot of electric power to thesensors. For allowing the sensors to successfully detect the paperwidth, the problem of wasting electric power occurs.

Moreover, since the sensors are installed within the paper inputplatform of the printer or the copier, the paper input platform needs tohave the corresponding structures for installing the sensors. Generally,the sensors are only able to detect limited number of paper width sizes.For accurately detecting different paper width sizes, it is necessary toinstall many sensors within the paper input platform. Under thiscircumstance, the inner structure of the paper input platform iscomplicated. Moreover, since the sensors are bulky, the sensors occupymuch inner space of the paper input platform. In other words, theconventional paper size detection device is detrimental tominiaturization of the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a paper size detection module.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provideda paper size detection module. The paper size detection module isinstalled on a paper supporting plate. The paper size detection moduleincludes a position sensing assembly and a sliding block assembly. Theposition sensing assembly is located under the paper supporting plate,and includes a carrier plate, a sensing circuit board and pluralelastomers. The sensing circuit board is installed on a bottom side ofthe carrier plate. The first ends of the elastomers are connected withthe sensing circuit board. The second ends of the elastomers areprotruded out of the carrier plate and have corresponding pressedsurfaces. The sliding block assembly includes a paper positioning blockand at least one roller. The paper positioning block is installed on thepaper supporting plate. The roller is located under the paperpositioning block and the paper supporting plate. The roller isconnected with the paper positioning block and rolled along the carrierplate. While the paper positioning block is moved, the roller iscorrespondingly rolled along the carrier plate and the pressed surfacesof the elastomers. When a position of the pressed surface rolled andpressed by the roller is detected, the sensing circuit board generates apaper size signal. Consequently, the function of detecting the widthsize of the paper is achieved.

In an embodiment, the sliding block assembly further includes a slidingtrack, and the sliding track is slidably connected between the papersupporting plate and the carrier plate. A bottom side of the paperpositioning block is connected with a side of the sliding track. Theroller is pivotally coupled to the sliding track. Consequently, theroller is pivotally coupled to the paper positioning block through thesliding track. As the paper positioning block is moved, the roller iscorrespondingly rolled through the sliding track. In an embodiment, thepaper positioning block includes a supporting slab and a verticalpositioning plate. The vertical positioning plate is protruded upwardlyfrom the supporting slab. The supporting slab is connected with thesliding track. Consequently, the purpose of saving the material cost isachieved.

In an embodiment, the sliding block assembly further includes pluralfixing elements. The fixing elements are penetrated through the slidingtrack and the supporting slab. Consequently, the supporting slab isfixed on the sliding track through the fixing elements. Preferably, thesliding block assembly further includes plural protrusion posts, and theplural protrusion posts are protruded from a bottom surface of thesupporting slab. The paper supporting plate has a sliding slot. Theprotrusion posts are penetrated through the sliding slot and movablealong the sliding slot. The fixing elements are tightened into thecorresponding protrusion posts. Consequently, the sliding track and thesupporting slab are connected with each other.

In an embodiment, the sliding block assembly further includes a ratchet,and the ratchet is pivotally coupled to the paper supporting plate andlocated under the paper supporting plate. Moreover, plural teeth areformed on a lateral surface of the sliding track, and the teeth of thesliding track are engaged with the ratchet. In an embodiment, aring-shaped raised structure is protruded from an outer surface of aside of the ratchet away from the paper supporting plate, and a bottomsurface of the sliding track is contacted with the ring-shaped raisedstructure.

In an embodiment, the position sensing assembly further includes aresilience plate, and the resilience plate is clamped between thesensing circuit board and the carrier plate. The plural elastomers areprotruded from the resilience plate. The plural elastomers are connectedwith the sensing circuit board through the resilience plate. Preferably,the carrier plate has plural perforations. The plural elastomers arepenetrated through and protruded out of the corresponding perforations,so that the pressed surfaces are exposed outside a top side of thecarrier plate. In such ways, the elastomers are not detached.

In an embodiment, the position sensing assembly further includes pluralfastening elements. The plural fastening elements are penetrated throughthe sensing circuit board, the resilience plate and the carrier platesequentially. Preferably, the resilience plate and the plural elastomersare integrally formed. Moreover, the resilience plate and the pluralelastomers are made of rubber, silicone or casting polyurethane.Preferably, the plural elastomers are aligned with the correspondingperforations, and the plural elastomers and the plural perforations arelinearly arranged.

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will becomemore readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art afterreviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings,in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a portion of a papersize detection module according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cutaway view illustrating a portion of the papersize detection module according to the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom view illustrating the paper size detectionmodule according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the paper sizedetection module in a usage state according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a portion of a papersize detection module according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cutaway view illustrating a portion ofthe paper size detection module according to the embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic bottom view illustrating thepaper size detection module according to the embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the paper size detection module100 is installed on a paper input platform 90 of a copier or a printer.The paper input platform 90 comprises a paper supporting plate 91. Thepaper supporting plate 91 has two sliding slots 911. The paper sizedetection module 100 comprises a position sensing assembly 10 and asliding block assembly 20.

The position sensing assembly 10 is located under the paper supportingplate 91 and aligned with one sliding slot 911 of the paper supportingplate 91. The position sensing assembly 10 comprises a carrier plate 11,a sensing circuit board 12, a resilience plate 13, plural elastomers 14and plural fastening elements 15. The carrier plate 11 is located besidethe paper supporting plate 91. Moreover, the carrier plate 11 comprisesplural perforations 111. The plural perforations 111 are formed in thecarrier plate 11 in a linear arrangement. The sensing circuit board 12is installed on a bottom side of the carrier plate 11. An example of thesensing circuit board 12 includes but is not limited to a pressuresensor board. The resilience plate 13 is clamped between the sensingcircuit board 12 and the carrier plate 11. The plural elastomers 14 areextended from the resilience plate 13. Especially, the plural elastomers14 are disposed on the resilience plate 13 in a linear arrangement. Theelastomers 14 are aligned with the corresponding perforations 111. Afirst end of each elastomer 14 is coupled to the resilience plate 13 andcontacted with the sensing circuit board 12 through the resilience plate13. A second end of each elastomer 14 is arranged away from theresilience plate 13 and has a pressed surface 141. The plural elastomers14 are penetrated through the corresponding perforations 111 of thecarrier plate 11. Moreover, the pressed surfaces 141 are protruded outof the carrier plate 11 and exposed outside a top side of the carrierplate 11. In an embodiment, the resilience plate 13 and the pluralelastomers 14 are integrally formed. Preferably, the resilience plate 13and the plural elastomers 14 are made of rubber, silicone or castingpolyurethane. After the fastening elements 15 are tightened into thesensing circuit board 12, the resilience plate 13 and the carrier plate11 sequentially, the sensing circuit board 12, the resilience plate 13and the carrier plate 11 are combined together. Consequently, theresilience plate 13 is securely clamped between the carrier plate 11 andthe sensing circuit board 12.

The sliding block assembly 20 comprises a paper positioning block 21, asliding track 22, at least one roller 23, plural protrusion posts 24,plural fixing elements 25, a ratchet 26, a linked positioning block 27and a linked sliding track 28. The paper positioning block 21 isinstalled on a first side of the paper supporting plate 91 and locatedover the carrier plate 11. The paper positioning block 21 comprises asupporting slab 211 and a vertical positioning plate 212. The verticalpositioning plate 212 is protruded upwardly from the supporting slab211. The plural protrusion posts 24 are protruded from a bottom surfaceof the paper positioning block 21. The protrusion posts 24 arepenetrated through the sliding slot 911 that is located at a first sideof the paper supporting plate 91. The protrusion posts 24 are alignedwith the position sensing assembly 10. The protrusion posts 24 aremovable along the sliding slot 911. The sliding track 22 is slidablyconnected between the paper supporting plate 91 and the carrier plate11. The fixing elements 25 are penetrated through the sliding track 22and tightened into the corresponding protrusion posts 24. After thefixing elements 25 are tightened into the corresponding protrusion posts24, the sliding track 22 and the supporting slab 211 are connected witheach other. Moreover, plural teeth 221 are formed on a lateral surfaceof the sliding track 22.

The roller 23 is located under the paper positioning block 21 and thepaper supporting plate 91. The roller 23 is pivotally coupled to thesliding track 22. Consequently, the roller 23 is pivotally coupled tothe paper positioning block 21 through the sliding track 22. As thepaper positioning block 21 is moved, the roller 23 is correspondinglyrolled through the sliding track 22. Consequently, the roller 23 isrolled along the carrier plate 11. The ratchet 26 is pivotally coupledto the paper supporting plate 91 and located under the paper supportingplate 91. The teeth 221 of the sliding track 22 are engaged with theteeth of the ratchet 26. A ring-shaped raised structure 261 is protrudedfrom an outer surface of a side of the ratchet 26 away from the papersupporting plate 91. A bottom surface of the sliding track 22 iscontacted with the ring-shaped raised structure 261. Consequently, thesliding track 22 is supported by the ring-shaped raised structure 261.

The linked positioning block 27 is installed on a side of the papersupporting plate 91 away from the position sensing assembly 10. Thelinked positioning block 27 also comprises plural linked protrusionposts (not shown). The linked protrusion posts are penetrated throughthe sliding slot 911 at the side away from the position sensing assembly10. The linked sliding track 28 is slidably connected with the bottomside of the paper supporting plate 91. A bottom surface of the linkedsliding track 28 is contacted with the ring-shaped raised structure 261.Moreover, plural teeth 281 are formed on a lateral surface of the linkedsliding track 28. The teeth 281 of the linked sliding track 28 areengaged with the teeth of the ratchet 26.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the paper sizedetection module in a usage state according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. Firstly, the user places a paper 80 on the papersupport plate 91. Then, the paper positioning block 21 is moved in thedirection toward the paper 80. Correspondingly, the sliding track 22 ismoved in the direction toward the paper 80. Due to the engagementbetween the sliding track 22 and the ratchet 26, the ratchet 26 iscorrespondingly rolled. As the ratchet 26 is rolled, the linked slidingtrack 28 is correspondingly moved in the direction toward the paper 80.As the linked sliding track 28 is moved, the linked positioning block 27is moved in the direction toward the paper 80 until the paperpositioning block 21 and the linked positioning block 27 arerespectively contacted with the two edges of the paper 80. While thepaper positioning block 21 is moved in the direction toward the paper80, the sliding track 22 is moved and the roller 23 is rolled with themovement of the sliding track 22. Consequently, the roller 23 is rolledalong the carrier plate 11 and the pressed surfaces 141. When thevertical positioning plate 212 of the paper positioning block 21 iscontacted with the paper 80 and a specified pressed surface 141 ispressed by the roller 23, the elastomer 14 corresponding to thespecified pressed surfaces 141 provides a force or a pressure to thesensing circuit board 12. According to the position of the elasticelement 14 which provides the force or the pressure, the sensing circuitboard 12 generates a paper size signal. That is, when the position ofthe pressed surface 141 pressed by the roller 23 is detected by thesensing circuit board 12, the sensing circuit board 12 generates thecorresponding paper size signal. After receiving the paper size signalfrom the sensing circuit board 12, the printer or the copier calculatesthe width size of the paper 80. Then, According to the width size, theprinter or the copier selects the print paper with a suitable size froma paper input tray. Then, the contents of the paper document are printedout and printed on the print paper.

Since the width of the paper 80 is calculated according to the result ofdetecting the position of the pressed elastomer 14 by the sensingcircuit board 12, it is not necessary to additionally install positionsensors within the printer or the copier to detect the paper width.Consequently, the paper size detection module achieves the benefits ofsimplifying the structure, reducing the structural cost, saving thematerial cost and saving the structural space. Since the sensing circuitboard 12 cooperates with the roller 23 and the elastomers 14 to detectthe paper width, it is not necessary to additionally install sensors andthe power-saving purpose is achieved. Moreover, as long as the number ofthe elastomers 14 is increased, the range of the paper width size can beexpanded.

As mentioned above, the elastomers 14 are protruded from the resilienceplate 13, and the resilience plate 13 is clamped between the sensingcircuit board 12 and the carrier plate 11. Consequently, when theelastomers 14 are pressed by the roller 23, the elastomers 14 are notshifted. Under this circumstance, the elastomers 14 are not detachedfrom the perforations 111 of the carrier plate 11.

As mentioned above, the sliding track 22 is supported by the ring-shapedraised structure 261 of the ratchet 26. Consequently, while the slidingtrack 22 is moved, the sliding track 22 is continuously moved along thesame horizontal line. In other words, the sliding track 22 is not movedaslant.

From the above descriptions, the paper size detection module of thepresent invention has the following features. Firstly, the positionsensing assembly 10 and the sliding block assembly 20 are used toachieve the function of detecting the width size of the paper 80.Secondly, since the information about the width size of the paper 80 isrealized according to the result of detecting the position of thepressed elastomer 14 by the sensing circuit board 12, the paper sizedetection module can achieve the benefits of simplifying the structure,reducing the structural cost, saving the material cost and saving thestructural space. Thirdly, since the resilience plate 13 is clampedbetween the sensing circuit board 12 and the carrier plate 11, theelastomers 14 are not shifted.

While the invention has been described in terms of what is presentlyconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is tobe understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosedembodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all modifications and similarstructures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A paper size detection module installed on apaper supporting plate, the paper size detection module comprising: aposition sensing assembly located under the paper supporting plate, andcomprising a carrier plate, a sensing circuit board and pluralelastomers, wherein the sensing circuit board is installed on a bottomside of the carrier plate, first ends of the elastomers are connectedwith the sensing circuit board, and second ends of the elastomers areprotruded out of the carrier plate and have corresponding pressedsurfaces of the elastomers; and a sliding block assembly comprising apaper positioning block and at least one roller, wherein the paperpositioning block is installed on the paper supporting plate, and theroller is located under the paper positioning block and the papersupporting plate, wherein the roller is connected with the paperpositioning block and rolled along the carrier plate, wherein while thepaper positioning block is moved, the roller is correspondingly rolledalong the carrier plate and the pressed surfaces of the elastomers,wherein when a position of one of the pressed surfaces of the elastomersrolled and pressed by the roller is detected, the sensing circuit boardgenerates a paper size signal.
 2. The paper size detection moduleaccording to claim 1, wherein the sliding block assembly furthercomprises a sliding track, and the sliding track is slidably connectedbetween the paper supporting plate and the carrier plate, wherein abottom side of the paper positioning block is connected with a side ofthe sliding track, and the roller is rotatably coupled to the slidingtrack, so that the roller is rotatably coupled to the paper positioningblock through the sliding track, wherein as the paper positioning blockis moved, the roller is correspondingly rolled through the slidingtrack.
 3. The paper size detection module according to claim 2, whereinthe paper positioning block comprises a supporting slab and a verticalpositioning plate, wherein the vertical positioning plate is protrudedupwardly from the supporting slab, and the supporting slab is connectedwith the sliding track.
 4. The paper size detection module according toclaim 3, wherein the sliding block assembly further comprises pluralfixing elements, wherein the fixing elements are penetrated through thesliding track and the supporting slab, so that the supporting slab isfixed on the sliding track through the fixing elements.
 5. The papersize detection module according to claim 4, wherein the sliding blockassembly further comprises plural protrusion posts, and the pluralprotrusion posts are protruded from a bottom surface of the supportingslab, wherein the paper supporting plate has a sliding slot, and theprotrusion posts are penetrated through the sliding slot and movablealong the sliding slot, wherein the fixing elements are tightened intothe corresponding protrusion posts, so that the sliding track and thesupporting slab are connected with each other.
 6. The paper sizedetection module according to claim 2, wherein the sliding blockassembly further comprises a ratchet, and the ratchet is pivotallycoupled to the paper supporting plate and located under the papersupporting plate, wherein plural teeth are formed on a lateral surfaceof the sliding track, and the teeth of the sliding track are engagedwith the ratchet.
 7. The paper size detection module according to claim6, wherein a ring-shaped raised structure is protruded from an outersurface of a side of the ratchet away from the paper supporting plate,and a bottom surface of the sliding track is contacted with thering-shaped raised structure.
 8. The paper size detection moduleaccording to claim 2, wherein the position sensing assembly furthercomprises a resilience plate, and the resilience plate is clampedbetween the sensing circuit board and the carrier plate, wherein theplural elastomers are protruded from the resilience plate, and theplural elastomers are connected with the sensing circuit board throughthe resilience plate.
 9. The paper size detection module according toclaim 8, wherein the carrier plate has plural perforations, wherein theplural elastomers are penetrated through and protruded out of thecorresponding perforations, so that the pressed surfaces of theelastomers are exposed outside a top side of the carrier plate.
 10. Thepaper size detection module according to claim 8, wherein the positionsensing assembly further comprises plural fastening elements, and theplural fastening elements are penetrated through the sensing circuitboard, the resilience plate and the carrier plate sequentially.
 11. Thepaper size detection module according to claim 8, wherein the resilienceplate and the plural elastomers are integrally formed, and theresilience plate and the plural elastomers are made of rubber, siliconeor casting polyurethane.
 12. The paper size detection module accordingto claim 9, wherein the plural elastomers are aligned with thecorresponding perforations, and the plural elastomers and the pluralperforations are linearly arranged.